In a tragic incident near Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport, a commercial jetliner and an Army helicopter collided midair, causing the loss of 67 lives – marking the deadliest air disaster in the U.S. since 2001. As recovery efforts progress to retrieve wreckage from the Potomac River, investigators are diligently piecing together the events leading up to the crash.
Here is a breakdown of the timeline surrounding the fateful incident:
– Jan. 29: American Airlines Flight 5342, carrying 64 passengers, initiates its descent toward Reagan National around 8:15 p.m. Meanwhile, an Army Black Hawk helicopter, known as PAT25, is flying over the River as air traffic control instructs the aircraft. At 8:47, the two vehicles come into close proximity before tragedy strikes.
– Jan. 30: President Donald Trump confirms the absence of survivors and expresses uncertainty about the collision’s cause. The identities of the individuals aboard both flights begin to surface online, with families mourning their loved ones. By midday, the bodies of the three soldiers on the helicopter have been recovered, and debris from the crash is found downstream.
– Jan. 31: Despite challenging weather conditions, search and recovery efforts continue, yielding the retrieval of more victims and crucial evidence. The investigation shifts focus to analyzing data from the recovered black boxes and evaluating the actions of the military pilot and air traffic control.
– Feb. 1: As weather conditions improve, recovery teams persist in scouring the river for remaining evidence and victims. Investigators address discrepancies in altitude data between the helicopter and the airliner, aiming to unravel the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
The nation remains in shock as the aftermath of this devastating air disaster unfolds, with authorities working tirelessly to uncover the truth behind the heartbreaking incident.
Black box can help reconcile differences. The box was waterlogged, delaying retrieval of its data. The Army identifies the third soldier who died in the helicopter: Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach. She is described by friends as “brilliant and fearless.” February 2 Officials say the number of victims whose remains have been recovered has risen to 55 and they are confident the rest will be found. As the search continues, salvage crews prepare to lift wreckage from the Potomac. Col. Francis B. Pera of the Army Corps of Engineers says divers and salvage workers are adhering to strict protocols and will stop moving debris if a body is found. The “dignified recovery” of remains takes precedence over all else, he says. February 3 Salvage crews recover an engine and large pieces of fuselage of the airliner and work to retrieve a wing. Portions of the helicopter and plane that were pulled from the water are loaded onto flatbed trucks and taken to a hangar for investigation. Families of the victims gather on the banks of the Potomac. February 4 Early on in the day, crews working in choppy conditions raise a number of large pieces of the jetliner including the right wing, the center fuselage, and parts of the forward cabin, cockpit, tail cone and rudder. Investigators announce that they are examining new data that could shed light on the altitude discrepancy. Authorities say the remains of all 67 victims of the collision have been recovered and all but one have been identified.
